MX Sports Congratulates Team USA
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- The 2010 motocross season came to an official conclusion this past weekend with the 64th running of the FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations. The event was hosted at Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship stalwart Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, Colo., and marked just the third time the Motocross of Nations was hosted on American soil. After a tremendous day of racing amongst the best riders in the world, MX Sports Pro Racing would like to congratulate Team USA on its 21st Chamberlain Cup win.
A massive crowd of 32,000 diehard motocross fans from throughout the world were on hand at the Midwest's home for American motocross, many cheering on reigning AMA Motocross 450 National Champion Ryan Dungey, 250 National Champion Trey Canard, and Colorado native Andrew Short to Team USA's sixth straight victory. Despite some adversity, the trio stood strong, putting the finishing touches on a convincing win with a dominant 1-2 effort by Dungey and Short in the final moto of the day.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X
Dungey, who served as Team Captain in the MX1 class, enjoyed his second MXoN triumph while also claiming the individual title in the premier class for the second straight year aboard his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. After a stellar year, GEICO Powersports Honda rider Canard battled hard in MX2, overcoming some misfortune in both of his motos to provide solid results for his team while Short and his Honda Red Bull Racing machine bounced back from his own bad luck in the Open class to win in front of his family, friends and supportive hometown crowd. For both Canard and the veteran Short, it marked their first taste of victory at the Motocross of Nations, as well as their first time on Team USA.
For USA Team Manager Roger DeCoster, it was his 21st Motocross of Nations win as well since 1981, though he also enjoyed numerous wins as a winning rider for his native country of Belgium, which finished second on Sunday. Team USA Assistant Manager Mitch Payton, who has been an integral part of the team in recent years through his company Pro Circuit, also enjoyed continued success. Both DeCoster and Payton have set the standard for American motocross over the course of the last decade and have now established themselves throughout the world thanks to their contributions to Team USA.
Ryan Dungey served as Team Captain for Team USA in the MX1 class.
Courtesy Steve Cox/Racer X
In addition to the three members of Team USA, several other stars of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship also posted strong efforts at the MXoN. GEICO Powersports Honda's Brett Metcalfe, who finished in the runner-up spot for the 450 Class title, captured a podium result in the MX1/MX2 combined moto while also finishing third individually in the MX1 class for Team Australia. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Ben Townley captured the win in the MX2/Open moto during his return to the Motocross of Nations for Team New Zealand, while ARMA Energy Honda's Kyle Regal enjoyed a solid debut at the event as a member of Team Puerto Rico, finishing just behind Townley in the MX2/Open moto. Additionally, 2010 AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year Dean Wilson was stellar in his second MXoN appearance, this time leading Great Britain to fourth overall aboard his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki and finishing second in the MX2 individual classification.
Courtesy Simon Cudby/Racer X
MX Sports Pro Racing would also like to congratulate the Thunder Valley facility and track owner David Clabaugh on an exceptional event. As a member of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship schedule since 2005, Thunder Valley has quickly become one of the premier motocross facilities in the world. Clabaugh and his hard-working group have worked tirelessly to give American motocross a presence in Colorado and after a tremendous turnout this past weekend, will no doubt continue to grow the sport in the Midwest.
Courtesy Steve Cox/Racer X
Special acknowledgement also goes out to event organizer Youthstream on not only a world-class race, but for also bringing the largest professional motocross competition in the world back to the United States. They graciously allowed American fans and riders an opportunity to be the host nation for this annual global event. MX Sports Pro Racing, along with the rest of the U.S. motocross industry who have come to enjoy this prestigious event each year, look forward to next year's event in St. Jean d'Angely, France, where Team USA will be trying for a seventh straight win at the 2011 Motocross of Nations.
For fan and racing information on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.
For more information about the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5750.
About the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is the world's most prestigious motocross series. The Series is managed and produced by MX Sports Pro Racing, whose mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the promotion of professional championship racing events nationwide.
The series is also produced in conjunction with Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, a global business that encompasses national and international action sports events, multimedia production and a consumer-based lifestyle brand.
Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a vast network of athletes, fans, brands and properties.
The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross series is sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America. AMA Pro Racing operates a full schedule of events and championships across every spectrum of motorcycle competition.
